Linde begins producing hydrogen-fuel stations

Linde officials are hoping to help commercialize fuel-cell cars with better hydrogen infrastructure, saying they need more flexibility to meet rising demand in different markets.

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Technology company The Linde Group
has officially opened the world's first small-series
production facility for hydrogen-fueling stations in Vienna,
the company announced on Tuesday.

Linde's Vienna center was extensively modernized and
expanded specifically for this project, according to company
officials. Many groundbreaking hydrogen-fueling innovations
have originated from this research and development hub,
including Linde's energy-efficient, compact ionic compressor,
the IC 90.

"The successful commercialization of fuel-cell cars hinges on
a sufficiently widespread hydrogen infrastructure," said Dr.
Aldo Belloni, a member of Linde's executive board. "The
development of small-series production capabilities is a key
milestone on this journey. It gives us the flexibility we
need to meet rising demand in different markets. Our standard
agreement with Iwatani shows that we are on the right path
along with our partners."

At the opening ceremony, Linde and Iwatani Corp. announced
that both companies had closed a deal for the delivery of 28
hydrogen fueling stations with ionic compressors. The first
of these units went on stream Tuesday in Amagasaki near
Osaka, Japan.

"Iwatani would like to contribute to the development of
Japan's hydrogen energy infrastructure by building on highly
advanced ionic compressor technology from Linde," said Akiji
Makino, CEO of Iwatani.

Unlike conventional piston-operated compressors, Linde's
IC 90 works with liquid salts. Because these ionic
liquids do not have a vapour pressure, they do not evaporate
or mix with the hydrogen gas. They also eliminate mechanical
wear-and-tear and sealing problems inside the
cylinders.

In addition, the IC 90 increases energy efficiency.
Equipped with a sophisticated safety system and remote
diagnosis and maintenance capabilities, the
IC 90 meets all fuelling standards to ensure safe,
silent fuelling and can achieve a pressure of 1,000 bar
(14,500 psi) if required, according to company officials.

With this compressor, Linde says it has made a valuable and
key contribution to the ongoing enhancement of today's
hydrogen-fueling infrastructure.

Highlights of the new small-series production concept include
a high degree of standardization across all components, which
are installed in a compact 14-foot container for ease of
transport and integration in existing fueling
stations.

The expansion of production capacity
in Vienna to 50 units a year dovetails with the introduction
of the first series-produced fuel-cell cars by leading
manufacturers such as Hyundai, Toyota, Honda and Daimler
between 2014 and 2017. Experts predict that tens of thousands
of fuel-cell cars will be traveling Europe's roads by 2018.

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Hydrogen use in automobile is not solution to pollution. It is only shifting location of pollution from vehicle to hydrogen generation unit or power plant if green power is not used.

Bhaskaran R Pillai07.17.2014

Hydrogen is the ultimate fuel for the new generation.This development is very encouraging and will play a very important role in this direction.

poorna chander gugulavath07.16.2014

The development of IC 90 had brought new life lines for expansion of hydrogen as fuel. A great work from Linde

Carlos Simões07.16.2014

It's crazy the use of hydrogen as a road fuel! The cost per kW of hydrogen energy is very expensive! Hydrogen is a very interesting but also very dangerous gas - the explosive limits are between 5 and 95%! The hydrogen infiltrates between the molecules of most steels altering its properties? Best for hydrogen is to use it to make liquid fuels!

John Otolorin07.16.2014

This is great. It is the beginning of high reduction of air pollution from transportation. How will other countries get such fueling station is a big challenge.